Preschoolers and Pixels by Amy Reyes-Hauff, CDHP

What happens when the devices children rely on most begin to shape how they connect, regulate, and learn?

In this timely session, together we’ll explore how excessive screen use can affect pre-K children’s social-emotional development, peer relationships, transitions, and engagement in the classroom. Amy Reyes-Hauff, CDHP, State Early Learning and Literacy Specialist with the Wyoming Department of Education, will bring a thoughtful, experience-backed perspective to this growing challenge facing educators and families alike.

You’ll examine the behavioral signs that may point to unhealthy digital dependence and discover practical, developmentally appropriate strategies to help children reconnect with active play, real-world interaction, and screen-free learning. We’ll also explore how to build supportive partnerships with families around digital habits at home in ways that feel encouraging, constructive, and grounded in children’s well-being.

By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Define device addiction and its impact on the developmental milestones of pre-K children.

• Identify behavioral red flags, such as decreased peer engagement and difficulty transitioning to non-digital activities.

• Examine the connection between excessive screen time and delays in social-emotional development.

• Implement evidence-based strategies to support active play and create a more screen-free classroom environment.

• Develop a communication framework for partnering with families around digital consumption at home.